Tuesday, December 23, 2014

End of Year, New Year Post

Over the past few months, I've written a gazillion posts in my head and posted none. So, if I want to keep my blog going, even feebly, I'd better do something before the end of the year.

The impetus for this post comes from Crabby McSlacker's recent post on being fit and fat. Personally, I admit to finding it really hard to walk the talk and accept that I will never look like a supermodel. But then again, the VAST majority of us don't. We just weren't born that way and no matter how much we wish and pray, it just ain't gonna happen! However, what we can do (should we accept to take up the challenge) is eat mindfully and move joyfully. Fitness IS something that most of us have a little more control over.

I've found the past few months really interesting from a weight point of view. One of my readers wisely pointed out that I should not expect the weight loss I experienced after surgery to last. And yes, she was basically right. I might now weigh a pound or two less than my post surgery weight, but essentially, I'm back to where I was weight-wise.

For about two months post-surgery, I just wasn't hungry and ate very little. It's really interesting to just not have much of an appetite. That's not part of who I am. I'm not a voracious eater. I'm not a binge eater. But I like food. I know people who don't really like food--they pick at the food on their plates, they play with it, but they don't eat much. And guess what? They're thin. That's not my thing. I even lost my liking for sweets for about two weeks after the surgery. That was practically an "out of body" experience. I remember looking at a piece of chocolate bread on my plate, sitting at a cafe with a friend of mine who had come to take me out after surgery, and thinking "blech." Wow, it was amazing. However, the distaste only lasted a couple of weeks. This does not mean I now sit for hours stuffing my face with sweets--far from it. But sweets have returned to their special place in my life.

I also remember not being hungry for lunch until about 3 p.m. in the afternoon. And then only having a toasted tomato sandwich, hold the mayo. And feeling completely full until supper. Woah, Nelly. That's just not me.

And now I'm back to my old self, and my old self desperately wants to go back to my old weight.

On the health front, though, there has been a lasting change. I didn't realize the extent to which my knee was affecting my gait and my back. After about two months of on and off back pain after surgery, my back is better than it's been in years. My (operated) hip is not great, but it's no worse than it was before the knee surgery. I have gotten my walking back up to where it was before the surgery (an average of at least 10,000 steps a day, and often more, per week) and I've added biking to the mix. I bike less than I did a month or two ago, due to my hip, but I'm still trying to bike at least twice a week, which is something I could only dream of doing before the knee surgery. In short, I am very, very happy with the knee surgery. And more than a bit relieved!

With this, I wish you all a very happy holiday season, whatever tradition you celebrate.

And a wonderful 2015, filled with good food, and happy movement. Be healthy and happy, one and all!

So wonderful to read this update from you! You're active and feeling well, and as always, you have a razor sharp tuning into what you need and what's important. Excellent post. The body image thing...it's something I've had to learn to accept. The truth is, after all of the damage done, no matter what I do--I will still not ever have a 'model'-like body...and that's okay. I embrace it. I can be healthy, I can be active--and I can feel great, without putting so much stock in what I see reflecting back from the mirror.I'm absolutely thrilled about how much you've progressed post-surgery. Excellent!! :)